Candidates Make Their Case At Forum

It was a candidate cattle call, complete with a cowbell.

More than two dozen candidates for seats ranging from school board to Congress each got a few minutes of air time Thursday at the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce's annual forum at the County Government Center.

Chris Wessel, editor of Hernando Today, and Mike Konrad of the Hernando Times, volleyed the questions at the forum televised live on Hernando County Broadcasting Ch. 622. As the Tampa Bay Rays warmed up for Game 2 of the World Series, candidates were kept to the strict time constraints with the gentle clanking of a cowbell

Some highlights:

John Druzbick, a Republican and former school board member who wants Democrat incumbent Diane Rowden's District 3 seat, offered a laundry list of what he called the county's disasters: The widening of Elgin Boulevard; the long-delayed Hernando Beach channel dredge; and the cleanup of the contaminated former public works site. He said Rowden has not helped reduce costs and voted against a half-mill reduction in 2006 and contends the county's fleet maintenance department should be scrutinized.

Rowden called herself "a strong advocate of uncontrolled growth" and said the county has made strides to "control costs." When asked what taxpayers got for the money that came in during the housing boom, she cited top-notch public safety services, new libraries, better parks and environmental preservation.

James Adkins, the Republican vying for Democratic incumbent Chris Kingsley's District 5 seat, criticized the current commission for wasting money and said he would lobby for a program that would increase transparency by putting county expenditures on the Internet.

Kingsley defended the county's performance in the area of economic development, maintaining said the county has increased the number of industrial and manufacturing jobs through incentives. The county can encourage more progress in that area by tweaking the comprehensive growth plan to allow for more industrial zoning.

Democrat Ramon Gutierrez, seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Jeff Stabins from District 1, criticized Stabins' Housing Enhancement Loan Program. He said a better way to stimulate the economy would be by directing federal funds to first-time homebuyers.

When asked about the sale of the old Brooksville Regional Hospital for $1.1 million, Stabins defended the commission's action, saying renovations for county offices and judicial space "was just not feasible" and added, "We truly got the best offer we could have for the building." He said the commission is looking for a public/private partnership to build a new judicial center.

School board candidate Gene Magrini, who is vying for the seat left vacant by outgoing board member Jim Malcolm, criticized Superintendent Wayne Alexander, contending Alexander "has not been a good leader to the folks in the field" and district employees "feel like his methods are very over-burdensome and overbearing."

Magrini said he'd encourage Alexander to spend more time in the trenches and provide direct, honest communication with staff.

When asked how to improve the county's 75 percent graduation rate, James Yant said he would work to get parents and businesses more involved. "The easiest way to do that, believe it or not, is to ask ... and let them understand the young people need them more now then they ever needed them."

The two challengers making a bid to unseat Democratic incumbent Annie Williams offered to put some of their own money on the line.

Republican Shirley Anderson, who has been critical of some mistakes by Williams that have made headlines, said she would pay out of her own pocket for any errors that cost taxpayers money. Gus Guadagnino, a Brooksville businessman who is running without party affiliation, said he would put $100,000 of his salary toward voter education and to increase turnout at the polls.

Williams acknowledged mistakes have been made but defended her performance, vowing that, "No voter was left disenfranchised and no vote was left uncounted."

The candidates for the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District didn't wait to be asked for their positions and wasted no time to state their position on whether the district should gain its independence, a question that will be put to Spring Hill voters on Nov. 4.

Amy Brosnan and Benjamin Edwards raised the specter of higher taxes and, as Brosnan put it, "the unknown" if the county takes over the operation.

The incumbent, Rob Giammarco, is an opponent of independence. When asked why he is running for a board that might go away, he said, "Someone needs to be the eyes, ears and voice of people. I'm the only one on the board who questions everything, and I'll continue to do that."

When asked about Florida's property insurance crisis, the Democratic challenger for the House 44 seat held by Republican incumbent Rob Schenck criticized the Legislature for not doing enough to address the crisis. Jason Melton, who is running in place of Joe Puglia, the original candidate who dropped out when his wife fell ill, said he would support a new reinsurance fund paid into by policyholders in the state that would cover wind damage in the state and encourage insurance companies to return to the state and write other policies.

Schenck defended the Legislature's record on the issue, citing a 15-part bill passed in special session that increased the existing reinsurance pool. He said a provision in the bill giving homeowners the option to pass on sinkhole coverage is already starting to bring rates down.

Luke Frazier, a Democrat who raised eyebrows at the recent Timber Pines candidate forum for attacking Sheriff Richard Nugent, did so again Thursday, accusing the incumbent of cronyism and failing to properly investigate and punish errant employees, including deputies who'd violated his rights.

When asked why voters should support someone without law enforcement experience, Frazier replied he successfully managed two businesses. "When someone breaks into your house, the sheriff's not the guy who is going to show up," he said.

Nugent defended his performance, maintaining he is increased accountability at the sheriff's office. "It's not a matter of us not doing our job, it's a matter of doing it correctly and within the law," Nugent said, to rousing applause.

The forum will be rebroadcast on Channel 622 at: 1 p.m. Oct. 24; 9 p.m. Oct. 25; 1 p.m. Oct. 26; 9 a.m. Oct. 27; 1 p.m. Oct. 30; 9 p.m. Nov. 1; 1 p.m. Nov. 2; 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. Nov. 3; and 9 a.m. Nov. 4.